Shelf-tongs



E. J. WALSH.

SHELF TONGS. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, I918.

1 328 860 Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

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EDWARD, J. WALSH, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

' SHELF-TONGS.

. Specification .of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Appl-ication'filed May 29, 1918. SerialNp. 237,270.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known 'tha-t l, EDWARD J. -WALSH, a citizen of the :United' States,,- residing at Jersey City, in the county ofHudson and State of New lersey have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shelf- Tongs; and I do herebydeclare the'following to be a full, clear, and. exact-description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in shelf tongs, and has particular reference to that class of shelf tongs employing a toggle joint arrangement for effecting the operation of the jaws of the tongs.

An important object of this invention is to provide a pair of shelf tongs of the character described, having means for securely engaging an article on a shelf to remove the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of shelf tongs having a peculiarly shaped toggle joint adjacent the jaws of the device, said toggle joint being adapted to be operated'by a spring to securely hold the jaws in engagement with the article supported. I

A further object of the invention IE to provide a pair of shelf tongs of the character described having means for retaining the jaws thereof open by a simple movement of the operating mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is reliable in use, few in parts, cheap to manufacture, and of highly simplified construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, which by virtue of its extreme simplicity and oheapness of manufacture will succesfully compete with numerous other devices in a highly crowded art.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the ame,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pair of shell tongs embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same,

of the character described,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the operating jaws of the device, and

iFigd is an enlarged detail plan view of the forward portion of the device, showing the jawsretained in an openposition.

aIn thedrawing, wherein for 'the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred enibo'diment of inyinvention, the numeral 5 designates a handleforming the body portion of the device. Secured t0 the forward end portion of the handle 5 is a T-shaped member 6, having laterally extending arms 7 Levers 8, pivotally secured to the laterally extending arms 7, as at 9, are curved outwardly at their inner ends, as at 10. Pivotally secured to the inner end portions of the outwardly curved members 10 are arms 11 connected thereto by pivots 12. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the lower end portions of the arms 11 are apertured for the reception of the forward angularly disposed end portion 13 of a rod 14, extending longitudinally of the handle 5, An apertured car 15 is arranged on the angularly disposed end portion 18 and is connected to one end of a coil spring 16. An eye 17, carried by the T-shaped member 6, engages the upper end of the coil spring 16. It will be apparent that the action of the contractile coil spring 16 serves to normally retain the device closed. Jaws 18 are carried on the outer ends of the levers 8 and are adapted to engage an article to be removed from a shelf.

An operating lever, designated by the numeral 19, is secured to the rear end portion of the handle by a pivot 20. The rear end of the rod 1 1 is provided with a hooked end portion 21, engaging an apertured ear 22 of the lever 20.

It will be apparent with reference to the drawing that the device may be opened and closed by a movement of the lever 19.

Should it be desired to retain the jaws 18 in an open position, it will be apparent with reference to Fig. 4 that a movement of the lever 19 to its extreme downward position will force the arms 11 inwardly, thus bringing the pivots 12 inwardly of the pivots 9. This action will cause the coil spring 16 to retain the jaws 18 open until the pivot points 12 are again brought outwardly of the pivots 9 by a movement of the lever 19.

\Vhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is parts as will remain within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: i i

1. A shelf'tong including a handle, a cross head carried therebv, a pair of levers pivoted intermediate their ends to said cross head and having their rear end portions diverging outwardly, a pair of arms pivoted to the rear end portions of said levers, an operating rod pivotally connectingsaid levers, an ear carried by said operating rod, and a coil spring connected to said ear and said cross head.

2. A shelf tong including a handle, a cross head carried thereby, apair of levers pivoted intermediate their ends to said cross head andhaving their rear end portions diverging outwardly, jaws carried by said levers, a pair of arms pivoted to the outwardly diverging portions of said levers, a longitudinally movable operating rod connected to the rear end portions of said arms, and a coil spring connected to said cross head and said operating rod the pivotally connected ends of said levers and said arms being adapted to be moved inwardly of the pivotal connections between the levers and .cross heads for locking the jaws open.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I EDIVARD J. IVALSI'I.

IVitnesses ANTHONY DE S R, JQsEPH VVILLIAM GOTTSLEBEN. 

